Uh, this is pretty devastating. This is pretty devastating. I don't think LA has seen anything like this before.

At least five people are dead as wildfires rage through Los Angeles. That's where we're starting

The Seven from the Washington Post.

I'm Hannah Jewell.

It's Thursday, January 9th.

Let's get you caught up with today's seven stories.

Authorities have called it one of the most catastrophic fire events in California history.

At the time of this recording, there are five active wildfires burning in Los Angeles County. That's according to Cal Fire. In the west, much of the Pacific

Palisades neighborhood has been destroyed. In the east, flames quickly consumed neighborhoods

in and around Altadena and Pasadena. At least 130,000 people have

evacuated because of the blazes. Dangerous smoke is threatening health across the region,

and firefighting and emergency response officials have been stretched to the limit.

Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass spoke about the dangerous winds which

fueled the flames and are set to peak again tonight. Hurricane force winds are usually

accompanied by rainstorms, but these are hurricane force winds that are combined with extremely

dry drought conditions. To those who fled their homes,

especially those who have lost your homes, our hearts are breaking for you, and we stand with you.

For more on this story, listen to yesterday's episode of Post Reports. My colleague Brianna Sachs

described the widespread destruction in Pacific

Palisades, where her own father had to evacuate. Find post reports wherever you listen to podcasts.

The Justice Department plans to release a report on Trump's January 6th case.

That's number two.

...